Knee joint protector



El N903 2 SheetsmSheet 2 L. M. SPEARS KNEE JOINT `PROTECTQR Filed July 19, 1938 ./IVIII.

Nm', R4, 1939.

l Lewis MAS/Sears,

, M45/MM Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE KNEE JOINT PROTECTOR Lewis M. Spears, Lubbock, Tex.

Application July 19, 1938, Seriall No. 220,059

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful protector especially designed for use by athletes and including protecting pads arranged to engage opposite sides of the leg at the knee joint and protect the wearer against injuries to the cartilage in the knee.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protector of the above kind which is highly eiiicient in use, simple and durable in construction, capable of being worn without discomfort, and capable of being readily applied and secured in proper position upon the leg of the wearer.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a knee joint protector as it appears in use upon the leg of the wearer.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is an outer elevational View oi the protector of Figure 1 in straight or flat condition.

Figure 4 is an inner elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modied form of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Figure 6, partly broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present knee joint protector broadly includes two knee joint pads 5 and 5a adapted to engage the leg of the wearer at opposite sides of the knee joint and connected by a strap 6 arranged to pass around the back of the leg in line with the knee joint to retain the pad in this position or against forward shifting materially from such position, suitable means being provided for securing the connected pads in place upon the leg of the wearer such as diverging straps 'I and la. attached to one of the pads and adjustably connected with the other so as to snugly pass about the front of the leg above and below the knee cap, respectively. Thus constructed, the device is composed of a minimum number of parts and may be readily donned or taken oiT, as well as causing no discomfort and interfering in no way with bending of the leg at the knee joint when applied. The strap B includes a tubular leather member 8 having a hollow rubber or other resilient tube 9 snugly iitted and retained therein so that the strap member 8 is given sufcient body and rounded shape as to not cut into the leg of the wearer or otherwise cause discomfort.

Each of `the' pads 5 and 5a preferably consist of a sheet of molded sponge rubber ID applied and secured to a strong iiexible leather backing II, attachment being effected by stitching I2 or 5 other suitable means. The backing I I of the pads are provided with rearward extensions I3 to Which the ends of strap member 6 are connected, and the securing straps 1 and la are each composed of two sections one of which is attached to one of the pads 5 and provided at its free end with a series of apertures I4, and the other of which is attached to the pad 5a and equipped with a buckle I5 arranged to cooperate with the apertures I4 to permit adjustment of said straps l and Ia for properly securing the device upon the leg of the wearer.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the strap member 6 may have its leather part 8 directly attached at its ends to the extensions I3 of the backings 20 II of the pads, or short elastic strap sections of elastic webbing or the like may be interposed as at I 6 between the ends of the strap member 8 and the extensions I3 of the backings II to permit suli'icient yielding as to avoid any interference to free movement of the leg involving bending at the knee joint. Otherwise, the construction of both forms of the invention illustrated is alike, and similar parts are indicated by corresponding reference characters in all of the views. 30

In applying the device to the leg, the strap member 6 is passed about the back of the leg at the knee joint and the pads 5 and 5a are brought against the leg at opposite sides of the knee joint. The straps 1 and 'la are then brought around the front of the leg above and below the knee cap and adjusted by engagement of the tongues of the buckles l5 in the openings I4 of the associated fastening strapmembers. The pads are thus effectively secured in place against the leg at 40 opposite sides of the knee joint and will effectively protect the wearer against injury to the cartilage in the knee. It will be apparent that the device is extremely efficient, compact and durable, providing a valuable device of the kind n question which may be sold at a nominal price. While the devive is illustrated in its simplest aspects, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of modifications and changes in the specific details illustrated and described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A knee joint protector comprising two resilient pads adapted to respectively engage opposite sides of the leg at the knee joint, a strap member connecting said pads and arranged to pass around the back of the leg at the knee joint and retain the pads against forward shifting from proper position at opposite sides of the knee joint, and diverging adjustable strap members for connecting the pads arranged to pass around the front of the leg above and below the knee cap for securing the device upon the wearer.

2. A knee joint protector comprising two resilient pads adapted to respectively engage opposite sides of the leg at the knee joint, a strap member connecting said pads and arranged to pass around the back of the leg at the knee joint and retain the pads against forward shifting from proper position at opposite sides of the knee joint, diverging adjustable strap members for connecting the pads arranged to pass around the front of the leg above and below the knee cap for securing the device upon the wearer, said pads comprising leather backings and resilient pad members secured to the inner faces thereof, and short elastic strap sections connecting the rear edges of said backings with the ends of said firstnamed strap member.

3. A knee joint protector comprising two resilient pads adapted to respectively engage opposite sides of the leg at the knee joint, a strap member connecting said pads and arranged to pass around the back of the leg at the knee joint and retain the pads against forward shifting from proper position at opposite sides of the knee joint, and diverging adjustable strap members for connecting the pads arranged to pass around lche front of the leg above and below the knee cap for securing the device upon the wearer, said firstnamed strap member comprising a tubular leather member and a tubular resilient member arranged therein to retain the same in expanded tubular form for comfortable engagement with the leg of the wearer.

LEWIS M. SPEARS. 

